CAMBRIDGE AND SOUTHEND UNITE FOR SIMON DOBBIN

Cambridge and Southend united in a show of solidarity for U’s fan Simon Dobbin in the final pre-season friendly ahead of the 2017/18 Sky Bet League Two season.

Accompanied by his family, Dobbin took to the field to a standing ovation and a guard of honour, delivering the match ball before the game which ended 0-2 to the visitors.

Uche Ikpeazu looked to have given United the lead when he out-muscled Anton Ferdinand before curling his shot past Mark Oxley with his left foot. However Referee David Rock pulled play back for a foul on the Southend centre back and disallowed the strike.

Rock then adjudged Harrison Dunk to have fouled an onrushing Jermaine McGlashan inside the 18 yard box. Marc Antonie-Fortune made no mistake from the spot despite David Forde getting finger tips to the effort which nestled in the bottom right corner, giving Southend the advantage against the run of play.

United looked even brighter in the second half and had an early chance to level when Dunk picked out Elito at the far post, before the winger misfired wide.

The U’s were awarded a spot kick of their own on the hour mark when Ikpeazu was hauled to the ground, however Oxley, who would prove to be a thorn in the U’s side all afternoon, denied Luke Berry with a superb save.

In fact the Shrimper’s shot stopper denied Medy Elito and Liam O’Neil shortly after following excellent pieces of play to keep Phil Brown’s side ahead, before Theo Robinson got in behind United’s defence late on to double the visitors lead.